Al-Namrood
Diaji Al Joor

Saudi Arabia is probably not really that known for its illustrious black metal scene, or tolerant nature towards culture or anything dismissive of the religion that the ruling people claim is the guiding force of the rules in their society. Al-Namrood is said to be from Saudi Arabia and their name is said to mean “The Unbeliever” which probably would not go down well with the Arabian rulers. Some say that they risk death if caught up by Saudi rulers, as it would be very bad how they firstly make black metal and secondly denies the religion they are birthed into. Thing is though that if it is true that they really are rebelling against the oppressors by making forbidden music it is great, but if the rules are as hard as we are led to believe in this part of the world I find it difficult to fathom how they can have such a large discography and also manage to make music video – it is something of an oxymoron, living and working in an oppressed nation yet being able to freely express and sell music critical of that nation. Nevertheless, lets say that it is how it is and that even if they are exiled it is really cool that they stand against the religious zealots and their schemes with their dark music.

It is black metal with influences from Middle Eastern themes, pretty dark and moody and the lyrics are performed in Arabic. That language is brilliant for this kind of music as it is a kind of harsh language, beautiful in writing and not so in spoken version. The production is good, I like the soundscape that is still quite raw and harsh and not too polished. Good vocals, I have no idea what they are singing about but it works brilliantly. I don’t think the Saudi authorities would be too happy with this kind of music; maybe stoning them would be the way to go. There are nine tracks on the album, playing time of 40 minutes and the variation is pretty good. Kind of a dramatic album as well, I think it works very well and above all it is rebellious just like you want black metal to be – it is also good that it is nothing about Satan and that ridiculous crap that many times it present in this kind of music.

I find this being a great album, really strong songs and thematic feel. The oriental touch with the dark, kind of like a band hiding in the shadows trying to find a following for a reformation of their world with their music. As I stated before it sounds like I want this kind of music to sound, and it juxtaposes something that is actually something of a risk to juxtapose in difference to most black metal bands from this part of the world, it is not dangerous to take an opposite view on Christianity like those ridiculous Satanists do. But lets not dwell on that, this is a really cool album and it is really great as well.

Arabic is a brilliant language for black metal, much better and darker than English can be – I think they do what they do really well and that Saudi Arabia crap doesn’t really matter as their music is really good and they don’t really need to sell it with anything like that. The band themselves state that “Al Namrood A Middle Eastern Black Metal band Al Namrood main objective is to create a furious oriental black metal that is not a compelling middle eastern influence by definition but also a grandeur metallic Art.” Which much better than “a three piece from Saudi Arabia which, no matter the dangers of their activity (if they are ever discovered they risk execution by stoning or beheading for apostasy), continue to work clandestinely on what they believe” like it was said in the press statement for this album.

I don’t think any song stand out from the others, the song works rather as a whole than as a collection of songs. It is really solid, familiar yet different and exciting. It is black metal in a more pure form, it works really well and I think that fans of black metal and even a wider audience will find this album, and this band, very appealing. Check it out, I am sure it makes gods cry.

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